Ion exchange composite material based on proton conductive functionalized inorganic support compounds in a polymer matrix

• Main Authors: BEBIN, PHILIPPE, ST-ARNAUD, MARC
• Format: Patent
• Language: English; French; German
• Published: 12.04.2006
• Subjects: AFTER-TREATMENT NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES C08B, C08C, C08F,C08G; APPARATUS THEREFOR; BASIC ELECTRIC ELEMENTS; CHEMISTRY; COMPOSITIONS BASED THEREON; ELECTRICITY; ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES; ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES FOR THE PRODUCTIONOF COMPOUNDS OR NON-METALS; GENERAL PROCESSES OF COMPOUNDING; METALLURGY; ORGANIC MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL; PROCESSES FOR THE ELECTROLYTIC PRODUCTION, RECOVERY ORREFINING OF METALS; PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSIONOF CHEMICAL INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY; SEPARATION; THEIR PREPARATION OR CHEMICAL WORKING-UP; TRANSPORTING; WORKING-UP

Composite material comprising acid functionalized inorganic supports such as silica dispersed in a functionalized and/or non-functionalized polymer matrix that is based on numerous polymers such as poly(aromatic ether ketones), or poly(benzoyl phenylene), or derivatives thereof. The composite material is characterized by good water retention capabilities due to the acidic functions and the hydrophilicity of the silica particles. Moreover, a good impermeability to gas and liquid fuels commonly used in fuel cell technology, like hydrogen gas or methanol solution, is also obtained due to the presence of silica particles. Good mechanical properties of the composite material let the material to be formed easily in thin film or membrane form. In that form, the composite material is usable for proton exchange membrane for fuel cells, for drying or humidifying membrane for gas or solvent conditioning, or as acid catalytic membrane.